tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315149808311345406.post8549344049122279457..comments2012-04-10T20:31:15.367-07:00Comments on Family Life in the Garden: Biblically Defining Eternal LifeMartin Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05127587011937425048noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315149808311345406.post-3718446385601261872012-03-07T15:43:43.910-08:002012-03-07T15:43:43.910-08:00Tabatha,
Thank you so much for your comments. You...Tabatha,<br /><br />Thank you so much for your comments. Your insight is great. Your questions are exactly the ones that I would expect, which shows me that you are thinking things through. <br /><br />I will post another blog post that hopefully will clear some things up for you, but hopefully this short response will help as well.<br /><br />I agree with you on Col. 2:12 and Rev. 21:4. I also think that Rev. 21:8 is tied to the judgement of AD 70 on the OC world. The corporate body of Israel was dead and those who refused to be made alive in Christ would experience a fuller and final 2nd death. Eternal destruction from the presence of God. (Not what we traditionally think of as Hell though, but that is another topic.)<br /><br />Another thought is this. Maybe we are thinking in individual terms too much? I believe we should think in corporate terms so here are some thoughts.<br /><br />What if Adam is Israel and never was meant to represent all human beings?<br /><br />What if we see eternal life as only found in Christ and then understand that Resurrected Israel (the body of Christ) can never die? <br /><br />I don't think all are born into Christ, just as I don't think all were born into Adam. (Yep, that just opened a can of worms...)<br /><br />If someone chooses to leave the Garden (the gates of the New Jerusalem are always open) I wouldn't see that as "death" as the Bible defines it. I would say that it is a kind of death, but again, I make a sharp distinction between the corporate body of Christ and individual believers. If I turn my back on Christ, the body of Christ doesn't die. Think about the flip side in the OC world. Even though there were righteous individuals they never brought about life for the corporate body.<br /><br />So, in closing, I think the traditional tendency is to universalize and individualize Adam, but I think that is a bad presupposition. <br /><br />Let me know if that helps and I will post another blog post that deals more with this question. <br /><br />Blessings,<br />MicahMartin Kidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127587011937425048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315149808311345406.post-63628293878298766842012-03-06T18:40:46.128-08:002012-03-06T18:40:46.128-08:00In Col 2:12, one was buried with Christ and raised...In Col 2:12, one was buried with Christ and raised with him through Baptism. I believe that was during the transition period before Christ came back.<br /><br />"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:4<br /><br />This passage stated that there is no more death. I believe this is the death of Adam. If there is no more death, then we are all alive.<br /><br /> "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8<br /><br />If we are all alive now, then we can reject God and be sent to a second death.<br /><br />So my question is, are all in Christ until we reject Him? <br /><br />This is a novel idea to me. How would you interpret Revelation 21? <br />If I am understanding this correctly, we are all born into the garden and remain until we choose to leave. I'm very confused now. LOL<br /><br />Tabathatabretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10311140576737625476noreply@blogger.com